Welcome to the Royal College of Pharmacy
We’ve changed. You may know us as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society — on 15 April 2026, we became the Royal College of Pharmacy.
We are the Royal College of Pharmacy, the professional leadership body for pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. We exist to advance the safe and effective use of medicines, drive excellence in patient care and support pharmacists to deliver the highest standards of practice.
As the third largest workforce in healthcare, pharmacy plays a vital role in the health system, and as experts in medicines, pharmacists and their teams are central to patient care and public health. Our mission is to put pharmacy at the forefront of patient care, advancing the safe and effective use of medicines to the benefit of patients and the public.
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News
The latest news and updates from Royal College of Pharmacy
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Implementing Pharmacy 2030 in Shetland
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. In June 2024, Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), visited pharmacy teams across Shetland, to witness their innovative practice and implementation of RPS’s vision for the future of pharmacy, Pharmacy 2030, across a remote island community. During the two-day visit, Anderson, accompanied by Anthony McDavitt, director of pharmacy, NHS Shetland and Interim Deputy Chief Officer, Shetland Community Health and Social Care Partnership, visited two community pharmacies, Laings Pharmacy in Lerwick and Brae Pharmacy. Both pharmacies have independent prescribing pharmacists providing a vital first point of contact healthcare service for their communities; independent prescribing being a cornerstone of our vision. Anderson also met with the hospital pharmacy team at Gilbert Bain Hospital and had the opportunity to present on our vision for hospital pharmacy, which includes releasing pharmacists to patient facing roles and advancing clinical practice including caseload management. It was fantastic to hear that the team had already done some focused work based on the vision. On the Wednesday, Anderson visited pharmacists working in primary care, in one of the Scottish government 'Primary care improvement plan' pharmacotherapy demonstrator sites. Alongside visitors from Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Primary Care Phased Investment Programme, Anderson was able to present on the RPS vision for general practice pharmacy, with our central focus on improving skill-mix across pharmacy teams so better use can be made of pharmacists’ knowledge, skills and experience to support patients. Speaking about the visit, Anderson said: “Thank you so much to pharmacy teams across Shetland for welcoming me, and for being so generous with your time to demonstrate the fantastic work which every pharmacist in Shetland is involved in on behalf of the island community. “I am so proud to witness the implementation of our vision for the future of pharmacy, Pharmacy 2030, and learn about the innovative approaches taking place to implement this in a remote and rural setting. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, a member of the RPS Scotland team was unable to join this time and we look forward to our next visit to understand how this work is progressing, so that ultimately, patients receive the very best care possible from their pharmacy teams.” Speaking about the visit, McDavitt said: “It was fantastic to showcase the great work of our pharmacy teams across Shetland with Claire from RPS. We have a lot going on in Shetland and it was great to cover the breadth of the service in a couple of days. “Our pharmacy teams are busy innovating across community, hospital and primary care, and are implementing Pharmacy 2030, RPS’s vision for the future of pharmacy, to improve patient care, and experience. I’m glad we had the opportunity to have Claire with us during our workshop for the Primary Care Phased Investment Programme we have in Shetland through Scottish government funding. It’s essential to have professional body input into the development of pharmacy services and the changing of pharmacy roles in Scotland. “Thank you to Claire for making the trip to Shetland and we look forward to demonstrating our impactful work again to RPS colleagues at a future visit.” Read more RCPharm news stories.
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Elections to RPS Boards and Assembly 2024
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Elections to vacant positions on the RPS Scottish and English country boards took place at the meeting on 18 June 2024 and the results are as follows: Scottish Pharmacy Board The Board elected Jonathan Burton FRPharmS as their new chair. Jonathan said: “I'm delighted to be elected chair of Scottish Pharmacy Board, serving as chair is a great privilege. I am hugely thankful to members for supporting me to serve the pharmacy profession across Scotland in this important capacity. “During my time as chair, my guiding principles will be, to act with authenticity, to respect all members’ views and to be passionate, whilst treating everyone with respect.” Jonathan is an independent prescriber who works within the community in NHS Forth Valley and won the 2023 RPS Charter Award. Read Jonathan’s election address to the board. He also served as chair of the Scottish Pharmacy Board 2019-2021. The board also elected Audrey Thompson to the RPS Assembly, the organisation’s governing body. English Pharmacy Board The board elected Adebayo Adegbite, Danny Bartlett and Matthew Prior to the RPS Assembly. Tase Oputu continues in her term as board chair for England. Welsh Pharmacy Board The board confirmed Eleri Schiavone as their representative to the RPS Assembly. Geraldine McCaffrey continues in her term as board chair for Wales. Find out more about members of the RPS National Pharmacy Boards. Find out who is part of the RPS Assembly. Read more RCPharm news stories.
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Call to action for political parties ahead of general election
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Ahead of the General Election, we’ve written an open letter calling on political parties to support our joint manifesto for community pharmacy. We’ve joined Community Pharmacy England, the Company Chemists’ Association, and the National Pharmacy Association to highlight the essential role that pharmacies play in providing accessible healthcare and the need for increased funding and support to meet the growing demand for pharmacists’ expertise. Our community pharmacy manifesto outlines a six-point plan, including sustainable funding, support for the workforce, ensuring patient access to medicines, Pharmacy First, pharmacist prescribing, and health inequalities. Tase Oputu, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England, said: “Community pharmacy plays a central role in the care of millions of patients each year, but the system is also under pressure, and sustainable funding and support for the workforce will be crucial. “As more pharmacists become prescribers, I’d urge the next government to make the most of this opportunity to transform patient care and ensure a positive future for community pharmacy at the heart of the nation’s health service.” Read the open letter. Ask your local election candidates to show their support for pharmacy by sharing our manifesto. Read more RCPharm news stories.